Laundry machine having rockable tubs



Aug. 29, 1950 J. F. HORVATH 2,520,635

LAUNDRY momma: HAVING 'ROCKABLE TUBS Filed April 12, 1946 1N VENT OR. Jalm .F. Harvatlz 4 ATTO s Patented Aug. 29, 1950 LAUNDRY MACHINE HAVING noomm TUBS John F. Horvath, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Appliance Corporation oi America, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 12, 1946, Serial No. 661,820

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a laundry machine, and more particularly to a novel tub construction, and the means for cleaning materials therein.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with a laundry machine of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 637,964, filed Dec. 29, 1945, but may be used with laundry machines of other kinds and types.

An object of the invention is to provide a substantially spherical laundry. tub and means for oscillating it about a horizontal axis. Another object is to provide an improved means for agitating the clothes and materials in the laundry tub.

Further objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a laundry machine embodying my invention, includingonly a diagrammatic showing of part of the operating mechanism, and showing a portion of the outer casing in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the laundry machine taken at right angles to the plane of the view in Fig. l.

While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein described in detail, a preferred form, with the understanding that it is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings there is shown a laundry machine casing I provided with an upper compartcompartment I2 for the operating mechanism. The casing is preferably provided with a base member l3 and a partition member ll separating the compartments I I and I2.

As shown herein, the laundry tub I5 is of spherical formation, comprising a lower section I6 and an upper section I'I. These sections are formed with laterally extending flanges which are adapted to be locked together by means of a clamping ring I8. The lower section I6 is provided with an inwardly extending rib I9, and a flexible member 20 is arranged normally to fit against the inner surface of the lower tub section and snugly over the rib I9. This flexible member is preferably of rubber or other suitable material and its edge is secured between the flanges on the tub parts I6 and I1 and clamped therebetween by the ring Ill. The casing I0 is provided with a central opening in its top adapted to receive a cover 2|. The tub is provided with a central opening in it upper portion adapted to register with the opening in the top of the casing, and an apertured closure 22 is mounted on the interior of the tub and adapted to be rotated to open and close this opening for the loading of the tub with materials to be cleaned.

The means for cleaning the materials in the tub is fully set forth in my above-mentioned copending application, Serial No. 637,964. Reference should be made to that application for a complete understanding of such apparatus' As shown herein, the tub is adapted to be filled with -ment I I for the laundry machine tub and 'a lower 2 a cleaning or rinsing fluid by means of a fluid pipe 23 extending from the compartment I2 through the partition member I4 where it is connected to a flexible hose 24 which is suitably connected to a pipe 25 leading to openings in the tub to permit the flow of fluid therethrough. Means are also provided to flow pressure fluid to the lower part of the tub to raise the flexible member 20 to force the cleaning or rinsing fluid out of the tub and then press the materials against the upper section of the tub and the perforated cover to extract and squeeze out the fluid in such material. The fluid from the tub and material flows through the openings in the apertured cover 22 and down the side of the tub to the partition member I 4 where it flow out through a drain opening 26. The means for conducting this pressure fluid to the lower part of the tub includes a pipe section 21 extending from the compartment l2 through an aperture in the partition l4 and which is connected to a flexible hose 28 which in turn is connected to a fitting 29 in a suitable opening in the bottom of the tub.

The tub is oscillated continuously during'the cleaning operations and the rib,l9 in the tub during such oscillation acts to agitate the material in the tub except when the flexible memberiorces the material to the. top of the tub. The means for oscillating the tub comprises a speed reducer mechanism 30 suitably connected to a power means, such as an electric motor (not shown). 0n the shaft extending from this speed of the tub l5 and below the equator thereof and adjacent said bracket this shaft is journaled for rotation in a bearing 39 mounted on an inverted V-shaped support member 40, the legs of which are suitably secured to the partition member 14. Directly opposite the shaft 31 and on the other side of the tub I5, is another shaft 4|, the inner end of which is fixed in a bracket 42 on the side of the tub, the shaft 4| being rotatable in a bearing on an inverted V-shaped support member 43, the feet of which are also secured to the partition member I 4.

It will be apparent that as the speed reducer shaft rotates, it will alternately raise and lower the link 32 and thereby oscillate the arm 33 about its pivot 34, which will in turn raise and lower the link 35 and thereby oscillate the shaft 31, which in turn will cause oscillation of the tub in the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A push button 44 controlling a switch in the main control circuit to the motor is located on the top of the tub and is pushed to start and stop the motor. It may also be intermittently pushed to make the tub ,inch around its axis to align the openings in the casing and tub to load andunload the tub.

In order to prevent leakage from the compartment H to compartment 12 around the link 35, there is provided a housing 48 mounted on the partition member l4 and enclosing three sides of the link 35 and the opening 49 in the partition member l4 through which the link extends. The side wall of the casing l0 adjacent the housing 48 comprises the fourth wall thereof.

I claim:

1. A laundry machine having in combination a casing having transverse partition providing a tub compartment thereabove and an operating mechanism compartment therebelow, a substantially spherical tub in said tub compartment for containing cleaning fluid and materials to be cleaned, said tub having a fluid discharge opening in its upper portion, an agitating rib in its lower portion and extending a substantial distance up its sides and a fluid extracting diaphragm having a 4 et fixed to the tub on each side thereof, each of said brackets having a trunnion pivotally connected to the upper end of the adjacent support, one of said trunnions having an extension pro- Jecting laterally beyond its support, an arm fixed to said extension, 3, link pivotally connected to said arm, a pivoted lever having one end attached to said link, another link pivotally connected to the other end of said lever, a crank arm pivotally connected to the opposite end of the last mentioned link, power means in the operating mechamsm compartment tor rotating said crank arm for rocking the tub about its horizontal axis, and means for preventing passage of cleaning fluid from the tub compartment to the operating mechanism compartment around said first men'- tioned link, said last mentioned means comprising a housing over said partition opening and extending upwardly therefrom, said first mentioned link passing through said opening from the lower compartment to the upper compartment and extending into said housing.

3. A laundry machine comprising a casing having a transverse partition dividing the interior of the easing into an upper tub compartment and an operating mechanism compartment therebelow, a substantially spherical tub in the tub compartment for containing cleaning liquid and material to be cleaned, an agitating rib in the botportion overlying said rib, means for forcing said 7 diaphragm upwardly to extract fluid from the tub through said opening, means for pivotally supproof connection around the major portion of the edge of said opening and with the adjacent side of the casing.

2. A laundry machine comprising a casing having a transverse partition having an opening and dividing the interior of the casing into an upper tub compartment and, an operating mechanism compartment therebelow, a substantially spherical tub in the tub compartment for containing cleaning fluid and material to be cleaned, an

agitating rib extending across the bottom of the tub and upwardly at each end to adjacent the middle of the side of'the tub, a support on each side of the tub mounted on the partition, 2. bracktom of the tub, supporting means mounted on the partition on each side of the tub, said tub being rockably connected with said supporting means, power means in the operating mechanism compartment, connecting linkage between the power means and the tub for rocking the tub, said partition having an opening through which part of said linkage movably extends, a housing fixed in leak-proof manner to edges of said opening and to the casing side and extending above the top of said linkage, said housing having a top cover and forming a leak-proof chamber to permit movement of part of said linkage therein andprevent leakage of liquid from the tub compartment through the partition into the operating mechanism compartment.

JOHN F. HORVATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 821,850 Bierley May 29, 1906 1,118,210 Mills Nov. 24, 1914 1,122,969 Mattice Dec. 29, 1914 1,168,028 Portsche Jan. 11, 1916 1,200,619 Johnson Oct. 10, 1916 1,531,674 Martin Mar. 31, 1925 1,565,585 Nelson Dec. 15, 1925 1,638,965 Sherbondy Aug. 16, 1927 1,686,657 Getz Oct. 9, 1928 1,758,594 Carroll May 13, 1930 2,187,770 Chamberlin Jan. 23, 1940 2,265,516 Chayie Dec. 9, 1941 2,335,560 Crane Nov. 30, 1943 2,354,208 Haberstump July 25, 1944 2,396,105 Kirby Mar. 5, 1946 2,407,660 Graham Sept. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 648,293 Germany July 28, 1937 

